Poems written by Peter Gibbs over 60 years, inspired by romance, travel, the beauty of nature, emotions and family and friends - peterspoetry.co.uk 

The Butcher of Bakhmut

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Bakhmut is now the latest
Destroyed in Russia's war
Blasted into ruins
Like Mariupol before
Their general goes on TV
He says with seeming joy
"Once we faced their army -
It's now old men and boys"
His troops have died in thousands
This butcher doesn't care
That in this battered city
They're left in deep despair
He's seeking a rare victory
Not more humiliation
Thwarted still by courage
Of this beleaguered nation
And Putin will not worry
That callous words are said
Any prize is worth it
If even paid with dead.

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